2007-06-23 06:39:18 · 10 answers · asked by deedee 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It's been said that the shuttle's aerodynamic characteristics approximate those of a brick. It takes a lot of power to make a brick fly. When the shuttle is landing, that power is supplied by the earth's gravity, and it's really gliding, not flying. To actually FLY the shuttle would take more power than its engines have, and more fuel than it could ever hold. It's not an airplane.
2007-06-23 06:54:19 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Astronauts have dubbed the shuttle a "flying brick". Though it looks somewhat similar to a plane, it doesn't have the capability of powered flight through the atmosphere. Instead, it glides, cruising on its own momentum to a landing. The shuttle can't take off like a plane, either. I don't know why other correct answers have received low ratings, as this is correct.
2007-06-23 15:47:40 · answer #2 · answered by clitt1234 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it is far to expensive to launch it back up into the atmosphere again attached to two huge rockets. The shuttle itself only has some small thrusters for position and attitude adjustment/trim. It does not have main thrust engines. It was never designed to fly like an airplane or a jet fighter.
2007-06-23 16:06:53 · answer #3 · answered by zahbudar 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can not fly like a plane. The only way for it to take off is for it to be lifted by booster rockets. When you see it landing it is not flying but gliding.
2007-06-23 16:55:00 · answer #4 · answered by butterscotch 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
once the main engines are cut off of fuel and the external tank is jettisoned, the only fuel that the orbiter has is that of it's fuel cells, which only supply the fuel to the orbiters Orbital Maneuvering system and the Reaction Control System. the fuel does not feed to the main engines... and so the orbiter does not have the propulsion power necessary to do so...
2007-06-23 14:46:56 · answer #5 · answered by mcdonaldcj 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it is because it doesn't have engines appropriate for that kind of propulsion. When it re-enters the atmosphere and lands, it is gliding. All it has are those big "get into space" engines.
2007-06-23 13:43:50 · answer #6 · answered by CNJRTOM 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ok. it might be shaped like an airplane, but it doesn't function like one. It doesn't have the necessary propulsion or power to actually fly cross country...
2007-06-23 13:56:37 · answer #7 · answered by Lexington 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Shuttle was never designed to "fly". Glide? Yes. Fly? No.
Please Google your subject, do some advance research of your own. Then ask better, more intelligent questions.
2007-06-23 13:47:07 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
The shuttle is a glider, not a plane.
2007-06-25 13:34:17 · answer #9 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has great big engines, but no fuel for the engines. After launch, the fuel tank is jettisoned.
2007-06-23 14:56:15 · answer #10 · answered by John B 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋